Permission for defence and publishing
By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content. You do not have to select a degree programme to see the Open University's instructions.
Search for degree programme
When you search for a degree programme by name or by part of the name the options in the list of degree programmes below the search field is narrowed down. After this you have to choose the degree programme from the list.
Open University programmes
Bachelor's Programmes
Master's and Licentiate's Programmes
Doctoral Programmes
Specialist training programmes
Did your doctoral dissertation receive approving statements from the preliminary examiners? Congratulations! Under this theme, you will find instructions aimed at doctoral candidates who have been granted the permission to proceed to public examination. Instructions on the public examination and the grading of dissertations, as well as graduation are available under separate themes.
Instructions
Permission for public defence – start here!
The right to defend a doctoral thesis in a public defence means that your doctoral thesis meets the minimum requirements and that your faculty has granted you the right to have your thesis printed and to start the preparations for your public examination.
Grading committee
Members of the grading committee include the opponent, the custos and one or two faculty representatives. Usually, the grading committee is appointed in the same Faculty Council meeting where permission for public defence is granted.
Accessibility of doctoral theses
Accessibility means taking human diversity into consideration in digital services. In other words, it corresponds to accessibility in the physical world.
Language revision of dissertations
The doctoral candidate has the responsibility to see to it that the language of the dissertation fulfils academic publishing standards.
Publishing the dissertation and communications
This page provides instructions on the printing, publication and distribution of doctoral theses, as well as on communications related to public examinations.
Publicizing the event
Doctoral thesis communications constitute a whole where the doctoral candidate independently communicates on their research and, in certain cases, collaborates with University communications.